Abstract

Background

The consumption of liquid calories has been implicated in the development of obesity
and weight gain. Energy-containing drinks are often reported to have a weak satiety
value: one explanation for this is that because of their fluid texture they are not
expected to have much nutritional value. It is important to consider what features
of these drinks can be manipulated to enhance their expected satiety value. Two studies
investigated the perception of subtle changes in a drink’s viscosity, and the extent
to which thick texture and creamy flavour contribute to the generation of satiety
expectations. Participants in the first study rated the sensory characteristics of
16 fruit yogurt drinks of increasing viscosity. In study two, a new set of participants
evaluated eight versions of the fruit yogurt drink, which varied in thick texture,
creamy flavour and energy content, for sensory and hedonic characteristics and satiety
expectations.

Results

In study one, participants were able to perceive small changes in drink viscosity
that were strongly related to the actual viscosity of the drinks. In study two, the
thick versions of the drink were expected to be more filling and have a greater expected
satiety value, independent of the drink’s actual energy content. A creamy flavour
enhanced the extent to which the drink was expected to be filling, but did not affect
its expected satiety.

Conclusions

These results indicate that subtle manipulations of texture and creamy flavour can
increase expectations that a fruit yogurt drink will be filling and suppress hunger,
irrespective of the drink’s energy content. A thicker texture enhanced expectations
of satiety to a greater extent than a creamier flavour, and may be one way to improve
the anticipated satiating value of energy-containing beverages.